A KISS OF RAGE AND FIRE

TWENTY-SIX

KATHARINE ARATHORNE

The City of Fliore

Killing was necessary. When you have too many knives pointed at you, bloodshed is inevitable. Why else does one wield a weapon but prepare for bloodshed? They had to kill, especially in their situation. They have to keep her being alive a secret for as long as they can. And she doesn't need to ask why. Because they are facing two evils. One is the person currently sitting on the throne and the other one looming in the darkness, getting stronger, gathering forces, and waiting for the right time to strike.

Killian killed all the guards that attacked them just for the sake of keeping her being alive a secret. She couldn't help but wonder if Killian saw some familiar faces. After all, they were guards and they look up to the Kingsguard. And she couldn't help but wonder how those guards must have felt when they have to face Killian Archeron in a battle that was against their will. Or was it against their will? Hindi na niya matukoy.

Did they feel fear? True fear they haven't felt before? Because she was sure as hell Killian is a monster when he's on the battlefield. But when he looked at Killian as they walked to the city, she couldn't see any hint of emotions on his face. Or perhaps he was just so good at hiding it. 

Nakarating sila sa syudad ng Fliore isang oras mula sa kung saan sila huminto kanina. The city was bustling. It was even more crowded than Baylorcliffe despite the latter being the nearest to the Royal Capital. Perhaps because this town was bigger. And the fact that it was a city.

The houses were huge and tall and they were made of bricks. The pathways were made of cobblestones that the feet of horses echoed across the street every contact with the pathway.

She could see children in fancy clothing of dresses and coats as they run around the street shouting and screaming while the adults were busy doing their businesses.

The city was rich and it was something closer to the Royal Capital in terms of economy. Compared to the other places she visited, the city of Fliore is more inhabited by magic users. She could see more people using magic. On one side, may nakikita siyang babaeng nasa balkonahe nito't nagdidilig ng halaman gamit lang ang mahika. On the other side, she could see another person growing plants from pots. Kitang-kita niya ang pagtubo ng mga halaman. It grew and grew until it was lush enough much to the owner's delight.

"This city is very dependent on magic," she commented.

"Like the Royal Capital," sagot naman ni Killian. He's got a point, though. Like the Royal Capital she could almost smell magic in the air. And being in this city reminds her so much of home. Where she often sneaks out and goes to the capital just to join underground fights.

"Did you know I would often sneak out before and go to the city?" tanong niya sa lalake habang naglalakad sila sa gilid ng kalsada. Their clothes of cloaks didn't go out of place at all dahil marami rin silang nakikitang mga nakasuot nang kagaya sa kanila. It was a perfect place to hide, she thought.

She heard Killian chuckle. "That's common knowledge, Princess," sagot naman ng lalake. Napatingin siya rito. A hint of a smile was on his lips and then he looked at her. "The King once asked me to follow you before."

And then Killian's smile disappeared na para may bigla itong nalaman. And then he muttered a curse. At alam niya kung bakit. Perhaps she looked really sad by the mere mention of her father. It still hurts. After all, ilang araw pa lang ang nakakalipas. But she's trying. And like she said, she couldn't go back to the past.

So she gave Killian a small smile. "It's fine, Kill. I'm starting to get used to it." She let out a chuckle.

"You know there's nothing wrong if you would cry your eyes out. I know I told you before seeing you cry when we were kids is of my absolute delight but I swear it's different this time." Killian looked straight ahead and then said, "I would kill anyone who'd hurt you. I swear that."

Napatingin siya sa lalake. Kahit na sa unahan lang ito nakatingin, alam niyang seryoso ito sa sinasabi nito. She has seen him fight several times but it was the first time earlier that she really saw him-the darkness incarnate-causing bloodshed. Alam niyang hindi dapat siya umaasa sa lalake ngunit hindi niya mapigilang makaramdam na ligtas siya kapag kasama niya ito.

She smiled and stared at the cobblestoned path. "And you managed to follow me?" tanong niya, just to ease the atmosphere.

Killian gave her a sideward glance before he said, "You sneak out where there aren't guards guarding. Somehow you manage to get out of your room without getting noticed so that means you have a secret passage that leads you to where the kitchen is. The kitchen has a back door that leads to the west side of the castle where you use the stock firewood as your leverage to climb the wall and then jump to the other side," Killian said without so much a pause.

Nakangangang nakatingin siya sa lalake. Sinunda nga siya nito noon. "And where exactly did I go next?"

"Walk several minutes until you reach the west side of the castle where you went to the shop called IDOLAS and you have some secret knocking patterns. You knock a certain pattern and that's the pass. Ginaya ko ang ginawa mo but then realized it was a unique pattern for every person so I had no choice but to force my way in."

Nakanganga siya habang nakatingin rito.

"And when I entered, imagine my surprise when I saw you in that arena, face covered and fighting against men after men. You were undefeated. Quite popular in the Underground, too."

Hinarap niya ang lalake and the question in her eyes must have been very obvious dahil umiling naman ang lalake.

"No, I did not tell your father about it. And that was the last time I saw you because the King sent us away for that mission."

And at the mention of that mission, dread washed over her. An enemy. One that wouldn't hesitate to take lives. 

And perhaps Killian read the dread on her face and said, "I am certain the other Kingsguard has some news about it. Something we could use. For now, kailangan muna nating maglakbay papunta sa Viles at kitain ang iba doon."

Her father called them Soul Pincers. Iyon ang paulit-ulit na nakikita nito sa panaginip--his visions. The reason why he sent the Kingsguard away to investigate. And just the fact that all seven Kingsguard were sent to investigate says something about this enemy.

Bigla namang huminto si Killian at nakita niyang nasa harap sila ng isang inn. It looked better compared to that tavern they slept last night ngunit naiintindihan naman niya iyon. The inn was located in an isolated alleyway. Sa hula niya'y mga magkasintahan lang ang nagpupupunta doon. She doesn't mind, though. May iba ng mas importanteng bagay pa siyang iisipin kaysa sa bagay na iyon.

Pumasok si Killian at ganoon din siya. Her hood was on and her face could barely be seen but she still wore a mask at ganoon din si Killian, especially now that he's a wanted man.

But luckily the middle-aged woman at the counter didn't so much as look at them at tinanggap lang ang bayad at binigyan sila ng susi. Agad naman silang nagpunta sa kanilang silid and she was surprised when Killian requested one room, which she really appreciates.

Ngunit labis na lang ang gulat niya nang bigyan siya ng lalake ng punyal. Nakakunot ang noo niya habang nakatingin dito.

"Are we going to practice knife handling tonight?" tanong niya rito ngunit umiling lang ito.

"Cut your hair," saas ng lalake. Akmang magpopprotesta na siya nang maisip niya ang rason. Tama nga naman ito. It would be much easier if she cuts her hair. It isn't much of a disguise but it could somehow help them hide better. Napatingin siya sa kutsilyo at napalunok. She never really cared for her hair because somebody else does it for her. At ngayon lang niya naramadaman ang panghihinayang.

She sighed and positioned the dagger to cut her hair nang hawakan naman ni Killian ang pulso niya.

"It's easier that way," sabi nito. Alam niya iyon. Kaya naman tiningnan niya si Killian sa mata.

"I got this," she said, assuring herself more than Killian. Nakipagsukatan pa ng tingin ang lalake sa kanya na para bang tinitingnan kung hanggang saan ang determinasyon niya ngunit maya-maya pa ay nagpakawala ito ng buntong-hininga.

"I'll do it for you. Sit there." He gestured to the bed. Agad naman siyang umupo doon, facing the mirror which was directly in front of the bed. Killian's fingers on her hair was very soothing kaya naman napapikit siya. But then she heard it. The sharp zing of the knife, cutting her hair. Nanatiling saradonang kanyang mga mata habang nagpatuloy naman si Killian.

When it was done, she opened her eyes and beheld herself in the mirror. Ngunit ibang tao ang nakikita niya sa salamin. Her eyes that were usually full of naught and goofiness were now filled with sadness. She looked..tired. And she really does look like she came back from the dead. Tiningnan niya si Killian na nakatingin lang din sa kanya.

"Why didn't you tell me I look this horrible?"

Tumaas naman ang kilay nito. "I don't feel the need to because you don't look horrible."

She fought the smile that crept her face and faced the mirror again. It was a new her. Literally, someone who rose up from the dead but much stronger.

"I have something else for you," he said kaya naman napatingin ulit siya rito.

With a single wave of his hand, a black portal appeared. Killian inserted his hand inside and took out something she knew so well. Lumapit siya rito at kinuha iyon sa kamay ng lalake.

"We couldn't be losing the things you received on your birthday," saad ng lalake but the moment she heard about it, nawala ang ngiti niya. As much as possible, she doesn't want to remember that night-when her father died and when Alastair did not hesitate to swing his sword at her, killing her. She doesn't want to remember it.

"I don't want those gifts. You can throw them away," she said and sat on the bed.

"These are given by Terrasen to you, their future Queen. You have that responsibility now. You don't have a throne because somebody else who doesn't deserve it took it from you." Killian stood in front of her. "Kung gusto mong mabawi ang kaharian mo, you need to accept it. I know it has only been days after everything but time is not something we have, Princess. Right now, enemies are gathering their forces to wreak havoc in your lands."

Napaisip naman siya doon. Parang kanina lang ay determinado siyang sanayin ang sarili sa pakikipaglaban ngunit ngayon ay hindi niya alam. She's faltering. Her will is faltering. And she couldn't lead a nation if she couldn't stay strong. She looked at Killian and the latter gave her a half-smile before he took another thing from the portal.

Nang ipakita ito sa kanya nakita niyang iyon ang ibinigay ng mga bampira sa kaniya. Blood rubies. It would either mean good luck or a warning. They all thought it was good luck. But apparently, the vampires warned her. She just didn't see it that way.

Gusto niyang sirain iyon but she tried to calm herself. Kinokontrol na rin niya ang sarili niya na makaramdam ng labis na emosyon dahil napansin niyang kapag nakakaramdam siya ng malakas na emosyon saka lumalabas amg kapangyarihang nakuha niya mula sa Kingstone.

Kaya nagpakawala siya ng malalim ng hininga bago kinuha ang kahon sa kamay ni Killian. Inilaga niya iyon sa kama nang sunod na kinuha ni Killiam ay ang punyal na bigay ni Jude sa kanya. It was especially made for her, designed mainly for her. Nang hawakan niya ito ay para bang nakakonekta na ito sa kanyang kamay. The assassina are known for their impeccable skills at making weapons kaya naman hindi na siya nagtaka.

Sunod namang binigay ni Killian ay ang regalo ng mga Faeries sa kanya. It was a diadem. A fire diadem. It suited the past Katharine. Hindi na siya sigurado ngayon dahil hindi lang apoy ang kapangyarihan niya.

And then Killian took the last thing that was inside the portal at nang tingnan niya ito ay hindi niya pa rin mapigilang mapasinghap. Dragon's eggs.

It was said that when the Dragons mysteriously disappeared many, many years ago, their eggs became stones. Others broke and turned to dust, but some, just like the ones given to her were taken care of. The eggs were covered in scales at matigas iyon. The Dragon's Lair gave her three wonderful dragon eggs. Hinawakan niya ito and felt the rough textures of the egg against her hand.

She knows they are eggs that turned to stones but she could have sworn they felt warm in her hands.

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